PERSPECTIVE/MODEL/APPROACH

PERSPECTIVE/MODEL/APPROACH

• A paradigm in psychology is a distinct way of describing, observing, understanding,

and predicting any given psychological phenomena. The professionals, as well as

students, in order to conceptualize and organize the available information, need a

model or paradigm. Also, it is required because it is used to test hypotheses and for

conducting research work in order to testify the validity of assumptions.

• Includes assumptions about what drives human behavior, how disorders develop, and

treatment prescriptions

Biological /Medical Perspective

Based on the assumption of Materialism i.e., all behavior has a physiological basis

• An understanding of biochemical processes will give an understanding of psychological and social phenomena

• Physical structures and hereditary processes determine behavior or behavior potential

• Physical/physiological interventions can alter mental processes and behavior

• Root cause of abnormalities and disorders lies in biology and requires medical intervention

Historical Background

The historical roots of biological model are very old, dating back to at least the time of Hippocrates. There are a number of great names that contributed to this approach, of which the more important ones will be discussed.

Hippocrates (460-377 B.C)

• Greek physician/philosopher

• Regarded as the “Father of Medicine”

• Talked about basis for medical problems

• Believed that rational knowledge could serve a path for understanding psychological problems.

Galen (129-199 A.D)

• Born to Greek parents in Asia Minor

• Great physician with an empirical approach who rejected the old doctrine and relied on his observation and research.

• Correctly identified various parts of the nervous system and had an accurate grasp of how nervous system functions.

• Known for anatomical studies on animals and observations of human body functions

Julien Offroy De La Mettrie (1709-1751 Ad)

• French priest turned physician

• Noticed that his fever and the resulting physical condition affected his mental state as well as  his physical state

• Body is like a machine and the soul is no different from mind

• Mind was a part of the body

Cabanis

• French physician

• Consciousness was a function of brain and was proved by the fact that guillotine victims were  not conscious after beheading

Philippe Pinel (1745-1826 Ad)

• French physician

• Believed that abnormal behavior is caused by some hereditary defects or nervous

system defects.

Wilhelm Griesinger (1817 – 1868 Ad)

• German psychiatrist

• Believed that the best way to understand mental disorders is to assume that they are caused by  brain pathology

Paul Broca (1824-1880)

• French surgeon and anthropologist

• His main contribution is with reference to the localization of function; specific areas of brains

are responsible for specific functions

• Discovered speech center in brain

Emil Kraepelin (1856-1926 Ad)

• German psychiatrist

• Stressed the likely physical cause of mental illness, and gave the first classification system of mental disorders

Charles Darwin: (1809-1882 Ad)

• British scientist

• Author of the revolutionary “The Origin of Species” (1859)

• According to Darwin, variations among individuals of a species would occur by chance, but could in turn be passed on to the future generations

• Gave the concept of “Survival of the Fittest” ;only those variations which helped the

individuals survive long enough to breed would sustain, and be passed on

Theories in biological model

Biochemical Theory

Very small amounts of certain chemicals in the body can cause profound changes in behavior as proved by researches

Diathesis-Stress Theory

Predisposition i.e., diathesis (including genes) and stressful environment combine together to cause

abnormal behavior

Traits are influenced by genes and by environment

Focus of Study

Neurotransmitters

The synapse of the neuron releases special chemicals

“neurotransmitters”

• Existence of neurotransmitters has been known

since 1920’s; but the evidence of their relationship with psychological disorders has been found and known since 1950s

• More than 50 neurotransmitters exist in human body

Neurotransmitters and Their Role

• Acetylcholine: Learning, Memory and Muscle control

• Dopamine: Motor activity, Coordination, Emotion and Memory

• Epinephrine: Emotion, Stress

• GABA (Gamma-Amino Butyric Acid): Anxiety, Arousal, Learning

• Serotonin: Sensory Processing, Sleep, Arousal

• Glutamate: Anxiety, Mood

Endocrine Glands

These glands form the body’s “slow” chemical communication system; a set of ductless glands that secrete hormones (special chemicals) into the bloodstream”

Endocrine Glands and Abnormality

Hormones

• Low secretions of the thyroid produce anxiety like symptoms such as irritability and tension

• Low level of pituitary secretions produces depression like symptoms—Fatigue, apathy etc. • Abnormal secretions of hormones may cause major depression

Therapeutic Techniques in Biological Model

Pharmacological Treatment

“Pharmacology is the science of the study of drugs to treat a wide range of less severe psychological

disorders”.

I. Narcosis: 

The word “Narcosis” is derived from the Greek word meaning, “be numb”.

a. Prolonged Narcosis

• Person is made to sleeps for15-24 hours a day and is kept under constant observation

• Prolonged narcosis is difficult and dangerous to administer, because a number of physiological

complications develop under prolonged sleep

• Seldom used today

b. Narcoanalysis

• Drugs are given in amounts that produce a state of “grogginess”

II. Chemotherapy

It is the type of therapy that treats mental and behavioral disorders with drugs and chemicals

a. Tranquilizers

• Drugs that produce soothing and calming effects

b. Energizers

• They are used with the sufferers of depression s who are not helped by sedatives

Types of Drugs

• Stimulants: Caffeine, nicotine, cocaine

• Depressants: Alcohol, barbiturates

• Anti-anxiety drugs: Benzodiazepines: diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan)

• Antidepressants: phenezine (Nardil), paroxatine (Paxil)

• Hallucinogens: lysergic acid (LSD), MDMA (Ecstasy)-in large doses, cannabis (marijuana)-in

large doses

Non-pharmacological Somatic Treatment

In 1930’s, several therapies were developed which draw considerable attention

Insulin-Shock Therapy

•     Developed by Manfred Sakel to cure psychological disorders by administrating insulin to produce a

state of comma

•    Comma is caused because of a reduction in blood sugar level

• Depression of metabolic processes tissues and cells; Found to be

Effective with schizophrenics, addicts etc., if used with psychotherapy

.

• Now rarely used as a method of treatment

Electro-Convulsive Therapy (ECT)

• A biochemical therapy for severely depressed patients in which a brief electric current is sent

through the brain of the anesthetized patient

• This controversial therapy is applied to severely depressed patients

Psycho-Surgery

• It involves brain surgery which is used in the treatment of severe psychotic patients who have

resisted all other forms of treatments

Merits of Biological Approach

• Although psychological causes are significant, biological causes are worthy of examination and

study too

• Research work is rapid, producing valuable new information

Demerits of Biological Approach

• Explains human behavior in biological terms, treats with the help of biological methods, and

ignores psychological factors

• Mental life is an inter play of both biological and non-biological (environmental) factors;

biological has been emphasized at the cost of ignoring the non biological, or psychological

Criticism Against Medical/ Biological Model

• No independent means of verifying/ identifying the existence of the disease; both factors and

symptoms are often assessed.

• There exist alleged differences between the symptoms of physical illness and the symptoms of

mental illness

• Symptoms of mental illness are subjective, whereas those of physical illnesses are objective.